A UK record fine of £80,000 has been issued to a Twickenham resident who demolished his 19th century house without permission.

John Johnson, of Trafalgar Road, was granted planning permission in June 2010 to build a two-storey side, rear extension and basement to his £1million home.

However, instead of carrying out the agreed building works, Mr Johnson went ahead with the demolition of the property, which was not mentioned in the application.

As the house was a designated building of townscape merit in a conservation area, Richmond Council decided to pursue the demolition as a criminal action.

Last week Mr Johnson appeared at Kingston Crown Court, where Judge Paul Dodgson ordered him to pay a fine of £80,000 - the highest to have been imposed in Britain for destroying a building in a conservation area. The previous highest was £56,000.

Mr Johnson will also have to pay a large proportion of the council's £42,000 costs in bringing the matter to court.

Judge Dodgson said a fine was necessary as the demolition caused irreparable harm to the conservation area.

Cabinet member for environment and planning, Councillor Virginia Morris said: "I really welcome the court's decision to fine Mr Johnson £80,000. He also has to pay the council's cost of bringing the prosecution to court, which is a further £42,500, as well as his own legal and experts costs.

"I hope that this will now demonstrate to residents and other developers in the borough that planning regulations need to be taken very seriously and cannot be disregarded or disrespected."

Speaking after the case, an apologetic Mr Johnson said: "This is our family home and all we want to do is build it as soon as possible.

"Our approved planning applications permitted the demolition of large portions of the original house and demolition notices were issued to the council and to our neighbours.

"My mistake was to assume we could demolish the remaining parts. We are deeply upset by the distress this has caused to everyone involved."